Gore traded to the Rangers for prospects

[DCNatsGirl84]

Sigh. This is so lame. At some point I’ll wise up and just stop caring about this team.

Wow... just want to say I've been lurking this site for a few years, never felt the need to post but I really enjoyed learning about baseball from you all. But this sums me up.

I can't care more about a team than the Owners. I gave up on... don't judge me... the Dallas Cowboys in the Summer when they traded Parsons and just walked away cold Turkey.

I'll always remember, love and enjoy that 2019 run, but I'm checking out. First and last post, wish you all the best

[imref]

I guess a chunk of the reason folks are so sour on this deal is  it kind of confirms that there's very little chance of enjoyable, watchable baseball for the next couple of years. If we are talking 2028 and beyond, then we are left with 3 years  or fewer of Wood, Crews, and even Cavalli. Abrams is likely gone by then, which may be OK if a middle infield prospect actually hits. Lile has a year more than Crews and Wood.

I renewed this year. I likely am going to call it quits for 2027. It was always  a thing for the office, and now that I've retired, I'm not sure there's much of a reason to keep the tickets.  Sad, because  my group has been going since OPACY opened.

yeah, the 2026 team is shaping up to be historically bad with arguably the worst rotation we've had since around 2009.

Figure barring any additional moves: Cavalli, Gray (on an innings limit), Lord, Herz (also on an innings limit), Alvarez, Irvin, Griffin, and Parker competing for five spots. Cavalli, Gray, Lord are probably locks. Maybe Irvin and Griffin as the others?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Wow... just want to say I've been lurking this site for a few years, never felt the need to post but I really enjoyed learning about baseball from you all. But this sums me up.

I can't care more about a team than the Owners. I gave up on... don't judge me... the Dallas Cowboys in the Summer when they traded Parsons and just walked away cold Turkey.

I'll always remember, love and enjoy that 2019 run, but I'm checking out. First and last post, wish you all the best

Sorry the disappointment is so great. I'm hoping we are surprised on the upside.

[imref]

per this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/01/22/mackenzie-gore-trade-nationals-rangers/ Rosario has not yet had TJ but will finally have it in the coming weeks.

They note that Toboni is still shopping Abrams and Young.

BBA's scouting reports:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mackenzie-gore-trade-scouting-reports-for-every-rangers-prospect-headed-to-nationals/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FWIW, Longenhagen's rankings are low on Fien and high on Fitz-Gerald:

Rosario - 45+ FV

The Rangers unlocked potential in Rosario that was dormant since he was in high school, and now he looks like a future star.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/alejandro-rosario/sa3023538/stats/pitching
Fitz-Gerald - 45 FV, low on his current hit tool and current game power,
Fien - 40+ FV
Cabrera - 40 FV
Ortiz - 35+ FV

From last Summer's Ranger's top 45, prepared before Fien was drafdted, he had Rosario #4 in the system (a 50, probably before the extent of the injury was known), Fits-Gerald #8, Cabrera #26, and Oritz #33.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/texas-rangers-top-45-prospects/

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

per this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/01/22/mackenzie-gore-trade-nationals-rangers/ Rosario has not yet had TJ but will finally have it in the coming weeks.

They note that Toboni is still shopping Abrams and Young.

BBA's scouting reports:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mackenzie-gore-trade-scouting-reports-for-every-rangers-prospect-headed-to-nationals/

I have to quit this team man. This is a disaster.

[varoadking]

Wow... just want to say I've been lurking this site for a few years, never felt the need to post but I really enjoyed learning about baseball from you all. But this sums me up.

I can't care more about a team than the Owners. I gave up on... don't judge me... the Dallas Cowboys in the Summer when they traded Parsons and just walked away cold Turkey.

I'll always remember, love and enjoy that 2019 run, but I'm checking out. First and last post, wish you all the best

Smart move... 

[varoadking]

I likely am going to call it quits for 2027.

We'll be right with you, so no worries there...

[imref]

Law: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6992500/2026/01/22/mackenzie-gore-rangers-nationals-trade-analysis-gavin-fien/

It’s a solid return for the Nationals, maybe a little more quantity than quality, with Fien by far the most likely prospect to make this deal a winner for Washington. He’s a big piece for the Rangers to give up, at least based on the hitter I think he’ll become, but I also understand their willingness to give up a just-drafted 18-year-old (he turns 19 in March) and four prospects from outside their top 10 to get a starting pitcher who makes them 2-3 wins better immediately and offers the potential for more.

I also see the Nationals’ rationale for trading Gore now — he has two years of team control left, he’s coming off two great seasons, and he’s a pitcher, which makes him an inherent injury risk. He wasn’t going to be around in any scenario in which the Nationals are contending again, and that is a good enough reason to trade him and restock the system, even if this is more about prospect depth than ceiling. I don’t blame Nats fans for crying over losing Gore, though; you would cry, too, if it happened to you.

He will have Fien in his top-100 for 2026 and thinks he could be top-20 by the end of the year.

[Slateman]

Isn't that about how you have to be on prospects? You're betting they'll be good. If you want elite, near majors prospects, the price tag is bigger than Mackenzie Gore.

This is the Nats betting their player development and minors scouting will combine for results. It'll take a few years to know if they're right. Which is a lame answer but it is what it is.

If the Nats were near contending, I wouldn't like this package. But we're years away, so I'm fine with some lottery tickets. Depending on labor stoppage, I think by some time in 2027 or 2028 we'll have a good idea if this is trending well or not.

This is to the extreme.

Gore should have gotten you at least one Top 100 prospect. Doesn't have to be close to MLB ready. This trade reminds me of him signing Butera. He basically signed him about three years before he should have been given a shot at an MLB coaching job.

Toboni traded Gore for a couple of lottery picks and a smallish pitcher who throws mid to upper 90s and just delayed getting TJS for a year for some reason.

[IanRubbish]

I have to quit this team man. This is a disaster.

While I don’t have a problem with the trade personally, it could be disastrous for the fan base

[Kevrock]

https://x.com/bobby_blanco/status/2014481146554269891?s=46

[varoadking]

Law: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6992500/2026/01/22/mackenzie-gore-rangers-nationals-trade-analysis-gavin-fien/

He will have Fien in his top-100 for 2026 and thinks he could be top-20 by the end of the year.

I don’t blame Nats fans for crying over losing Gore, though; you would cry, too, if it happened to you.

   

[welch]

Is there any reason to go to a game this season if we go with a hope of seeing the Nats win. Who did the Nats get to help the team win? Another SS for a team l;oaded with minor league shortstops? A pitcher read to have TJS? Did the Nats just collect a second AAA team? Or are these players intending for Wilmington and Harrisburg?

[HalfSmokes]

Trading Gore accomplishes nothing. This is no different from all the other trades we made that were meant to build for the future. Next will be CJ, then Wood and eventually Crews. We’re the Marlins.

Nonsense, we’re trading an arbitration salary for minor league salaries. That accomplished plenty for the Lerners

[Slateman]

Is there any reason to go to a game this season if we go with a hope of seeing the Nats win. Who did the Nats get to help the team win? Another SS for a team l;oaded with minor league shortstops? A pitcher read to have TJS? Did the Nats just collect a second AAA team? Or are these players intending for Wilmington and Harrisburg?

Nope. Probably can say the same for 2027.

[Natsinpwc]

Gore has a career ERA over 4.00. Let's not pretend he's Freddy Peralta. 

[Kevrock]

Is there any reason to go to a game this season if we go with a hope of seeing the Nats win. Who did the Nats get to help the team win? Another SS for a team l;oaded with minor league shortstops? A pitcher read to have TJS? Did the Nats just collect a second AAA team? Or are these players intending for Wilmington and Harrisburg?

Nope. I don’t hate the trade on paper I guess, but it does suck and it’s hard to get excited about. Also this is what you get with this breed of analytical GMs. Get ready for 2018-2022 Orioles

[varoadking]

https://x.com/bobby_blanco/status/2014481146554269891?s=46

Paul is pissin' on our heads while tellin' us it's raining...

[imref]

Gore has a career ERA over 4.00. Let's not pretend he's Freddy Peralta. 

Post ASB, Gore made 11 starts, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 5.49 FIP, while missing time with injuries.

So yeah, he isn't Nolan Ryan. But when healthy he's pretty darn good. Significant risks here for both sides.

[Lintyfresh85]

I know people are saying we didn't get enough but Rosario was literally a top 50 prospect just last year. We're just buying low on him.

[BigMeech]

We got fleeced so hard and basically just picked prospects out of a hat.  I knew it was going to bad when the headline just read "five prospects" instead of specific name. 

[NatsLSU]

Paul is a clown. Funny he referenced his 15 year old self because he’s running this team like he’s a child. That statement is also amateur hour.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I like Rosario in this package as well as Fitz-Gerald. Fien went #12 last year so, as a high school kid, I will assume there's a range of outcomes, some really good, but we won't know for a couple of years. I think it's a test of Toboni & Co.'s ability to spot talent. After hearing national writers talking about how the Nats were setting a high price for Gore all winter, I would be surprised if they sold low just to clear him out now.

[Natsinpwc]

Nope. I don’t hate the trade on paper I guess, but it does suck and it’s hard to get excited about. Also this is what you get with this breed of analytical GMs. Get ready for 2018-2022 Orioles

Do you mean get ready for the 2020-25 Nats?